{"product_id":"20th-century-african-american-quilts-in-california","title":"Routed West: 20th-Century African American Quilts in California","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA remarkable collection of African American quilts that tells a story of migration, creativity, and cultural heritage through the fabrics, patterns, and personal histories of their makers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRouted West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is the companion book to an important traveling museum exhibition exploring the history and artistry of African American quiltmaking in California. The exhibition is still traveling -- on view at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., from September 18, 2026, through January 17, 2027.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublished in collaboration with the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), the book examines how African American quilting traditions traveled west during the Second Great Migration (1940–1970). As families left the American South in search of new opportunities, they brought quilts, treasured textiles, and generations of quiltmaking knowledge with them.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeaturing vibrant photographs of more than 100 quilts by nearly 90 makers, the book reveals an extraordinary range of approaches to color, pattern, and construction. From improvisational piecing and bold geometric compositions to traditional patterns and quilts made with repurposed clothing, these works reflect both individual creativity and shared cultural traditions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMany of the featured quilts come from the collection of quilt scholar Eli Leon, whose extraordinary collection of nearly 3,000 African American quilts was bequeathed to BAMPFA in 2019.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAccompanying essays by scholars, curators, quilt historians, and artists explore the quilts as works of art, objects of memory, and expressions of community and cultural identity. The book also considers the important role of museums in preserving and interpreting these textile histories.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor quilters, textile enthusiasts, artists, and anyone interested in American craft traditions, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRouted West\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e offers a compelling look at the ingenuity and artistic vision of generations of African American quiltmakers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBook Details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeatures more than 100 quilts by nearly 90 makers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIncludes full-color photography and scholarly essays\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e272 pages\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Delmonico Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50841404997888,"sku":"BKS-14-10137-11598","price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2682\/5886\/files\/30c21502d902d35346191805df5d257582da6557aa1ce5b1f99b146b368d7997.jpg?v=1793374680","url":"https:\/\/www.brooklynhaberdashery.com\/products\/20th-century-african-american-quilts-in-california","provider":"Brooklyn Haberdashery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}